Cook County prosecutors dropped charges Wednesday against Harvey Ald. Colby Chapman, who was arrested and removed from a recent City Council meeting, marking the second time charges were against her were not prosecuted.
Prosecutors said Wednesday that charges of disorderly conduct and resisting a police officer were being dismissed.
Charges filed against Chapman’s mother in the April 28 arrest were also dropped.
During a brief hearing at the Markham courthouse before Cook County Judge Vincenzo Chimera, Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Shannon Wood said her supervisor directed her to dismiss charges against Chapman.
It was not immediately clear whether the decision came solely from the state’s attorney’s office or whether the city opted not to pursue the charges.
A spokesman for Harvey said he was looking into the matter Wednesday.
The alderwoman and her mother appeared in court via Zoom. Chapman could not be immediately reached for comment following the hearing.
Chapman’s arrest at the April meeting was the latest run-in with Mayor Christopher Clark, and the alderwoman has said her vocal criticism of city affairs under Clark has resulted in retailiation by the mayor.
Following Chapman’s removal and arrest April 28, tensions flared again at the May 12 City Council meeting as Clark abruptly cleared a packed council chamber, citing disruptions from Chapman’s supporters and residents.
In a previous statement, Harvey spokesman Glenn Harston said Chapman was removed from the April 28 meeting “after repeatedly disrupting the meeting proceedings.”
The mayor ordered her removal “to maintain safety and order of the meeting to ensure the business of the city was going forth,” according to the statement.
The statement said that, according to an incident report filed by Harvey police, Chapman disrupted the meeting “by yelling at the Chairperson and refused officers’ instructions to leave.”
The statement said that despite “multiple attempts by officers to escort her out, Alderwoman Chapman resisted removal and was subsequently placed under arrest after a brief physical struggle. She was transported to the Harvey Police Department for processing.”
In a video shot by Ryan Sinwelski, of the Harvey Historical Society, and shared on Chapman’s aldermanic Facebook page, Clark is heard ordering police to remove the alderwoman.
A uniformed officer approached Chapman and appears to try to remove her from her council seat near the mayor, but the Chapman appears to resist as she gathers up paperwork.
The audio on the recording is not clear, but at least three police officers direct Chapman toward the glass doors of the council room, but she put her hands on both sides of the door frame to resist being led out, the video shows.
After Chapman and police went into a lobby area outside the council room, a loud exchange can be heard and, at one point, Clark excused himself to step out of the council chambers.
Chapman was arrested last October for allegedly filing a false police report related to an August incident with Corean Davis, city administrator.
But details of the matters remained unclear weeks later, with no official records of any charges appearing in court documents. Harston said Chapman filed the police report after the Aug. 14 meeting, claiming she was “pushed and battered” by Davis.
But after Harvey police examined surveillance footage and heard from witnesses, officers determined they disagree with how Chapman described what happened, Harston said at the time of Chapman’s October arrest.
Harston said the Cook County state’s attorney’s office decided not to pursue charges against Chapman.